Hilton Head candidate for SC house won’t show at forum, claims bias against him
The candidate challenging S.C. Rep. Jeff Bradley to represent Hilton Head Island in Columbia will skip the only candidate forum ahead of the June 9 Republican primary, alleging the party is biased against him and favors the incumbent.
A local GOP official calls those allegations “laughable.”
Phil Hartman, a former schools superintendent, emailed a county GOP official Tuesday morning to say “it is with great regret that I inform you that I will not be participating in the Beaufort County Republican Primary Forum” slated for June 3.
Hartman, who lost to Bradley in the 2018 primary and is seeking a rematch at the polls, accused the “current leadership” of the county GOP of working “on behalf of favored candidates,” but did not explain his reasoning.
He also said the party was not being transparent because it refused to release the questions to the candidates ahead of time and did not have “a fair and unbiased” way of picking the moderators.
The interim chair of the Beaufort County Republican Party called Hartman’s claims ridiculous.
“Its almost laughable to think that we would any in circumstance give out the questions in advance. I can’t believe anyone who is a candidate would make that request,” said Kevin Hennelly. “I have never heard of the questions being given out in advance.”
Hennelly also pointed to how the party took steps to make sure forum moderators — there were two chosen for Bradley and Hartman’s event — were not from Hilton Head.
Hennelly said Tuesday was the first time Hartman has voiced any concerns since the two first met in February and after the Republican challenger agreed to the forum’s rules last week.
“He has not submitted any of his info to the party. He’s not listed on the website because he hasn’t given us anything. I met the guy once since he said he’s a candidate. I don’t even know this guy,” said Hennelly.
In his email, Hartman also said “elected Republican Party officials have openly endorsed candidates.”
There are no rules against Republicans in office endorsing candidates, Hennelly said. There are rules against party officials doing so ahead of the primary, according to Hennelly.
In an interview with the Island Packet, Hartman offered few specifics but said “I feel that the Republican Party is really interested in seeing the incumbent being elected.”
“That’s all I have to say at this point,” he said.
Bradley, contacted Tuesday afternoon, was surprised to learn that Hartman was pulling out of the forum.
Bradley contends Hartman’s campaign has been full of “unfounded” attacks.
“You got to wonder if there’s a concern for his ability to offer cogent solutions and cogent answers to the questions they may ask. The preponderance of the campaign work that they’ve done has been particularly devoid of solutions,” said Bradley.
The forum will be held as planned.
“I’m not canceling it,” said Hennelly.
It will be hosted on video, with the two moderators asking six to eight questions. The forum, which at this time will feature only Bradley, will be livestreamed on Facebook in the evening.
“I’ll certainly continue to adhere to these rules,” said Bradley. “It’ll give me a chance to talk longer on the questions in the absence of my opponent.”
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 5:54 PM.
